Written Answers Nos. 596-615
598. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of 18–24-year-olds that are registered for social housing on local authority waiting lists, provided by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11679/24]
View answer599. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of 18–30-year-olds that are registered for social housing on local authority waiting lists, provided by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11680/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority administrative area is provided in the annual statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The SSHA provides a breakdown of categories such as age, household size and household composition.
The most recently published summary for all local authority areas was conducted in November 2022 and is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/62486-summary-of-social-housing-assessments/.
Tables 2.1 and A1.1 include details on age profile. It should be noted that the relevant age groupings contained in the report refer to less than 25 years old and 25-29 years old.
The SSHA 2023 is currently underway and I expect to publish the summary report shortly.
600. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of units provided under the CAS for care leavers scheme per year from 2018 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11681/24]
View answer601. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided per year for the CAS for care leavers scheme per year from 2018 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11682/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
From 2018 to 2023 inclusive, 107 new homes have been provided for care leavers at a combined cost of €22,786,343 from Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) funding. Details are as follows -
CAS /Care Leavers
|
Year |
Units Delivered |
Costs |
|
2018 |
9 |
€1,214,965 |
|
2019 |
28 |
€5,144,003 |
|
2020 |
10 |
€1,412,162 |
|
2021 |
16 |
€4,114,320 |
|
2022 |
32 |
€8,934,588 |
|
2023 |
12 |
€1,966,305 |
|
Total |
107 |
€22,786,343 |
602. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide in tabular form the average cost per unit of new build social housing delivered in 2023 broken down by SHIP construction, SHIP turnkey, CALF construction, CALF turnkey, CAS construction, CAS turnkey, Local Authority Part V and AHB Part V and PPP. [11684/24]
View answerCost information on the delivery of social homes through the various construction streams, is collated by my Department at development/project level rather than at individual housing unit level. The cost of constructing new homes is dependent on a range of variables, such as the location, the scale of the development and the size and type of the homes involved.
The table below sets out the average cost per unit in 2023(Q1-Q3) of social housing across a range of programmes.
|
Funding |
2023 Average Cost |
|
SHIP construction |
€309,700* |
|
SHIP turnkey |
€301,300 |
|
CALF construction |
€86,600** |
|
CALF turnkey |
€96,600** |
|
CAS construction |
€218,800 |
|
CAS turnkey |
€327,800 |
|
Local Authority Part V |
€278,700 |
|
AHB Part V |
€332,700 |
|
AHB CALF Part V |
€73,600** |
|
PPP |
N/A |
* Refers to the All-In cost to include construction/land/design team fees/utilities/% for Art etc
** The CALF Capital Outlay represents the average amount of CALF funding provided. (A maximum of 30% of total cost)
This is the most recent data available, however data is subject to revision as claims are received from local authorities and final accounts are finalised for the SHIP Construction Projects.
CALF funding is capital support provided to Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) by local authorities to facilitate the funding of construction, acquisition or refurbishment of new social housing units. This loan facility can support from 25% to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the housing project, with the housing units provided to local authorities for social housing use under long-term lease arrangements known as Payment and Availability Agreements. A nominal interest rate of 2% fixed per annum is charged by the local authority on the initial capital amount. Repayments on either the capital or interest are not required during the term of the loan (between 10 and 30 years), although where an AHB chooses to, repayments can be made during the term. At the end of the term, the outstanding capital amount plus the interest accrued, is owed and repayable to the local authority. The local authority issues the CALF monies to the AHB and the local authority, in turn, recoups same from the Department.
CALF Note 1: Delivery does not necessarily occur in the year of approval or spend
CALF Note 2: The CALF figures are based on application details and may be subject to change as the project progresses.
CALF Note 3: Agreement on Part V arrangements are a matter for the local authorities. In some cases the Part V average is affected by delivery of homes that were subject to agreements prior to the current Part V arrangements. Complete details of PART V arrangements are available from the local authorities.
603. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if an applicant for the local authority home loan will be considered as a second chance applicant if they are divorced but still retain a legal interest in the family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11689/24]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
The Fresh Start principle applies for applications to affordable housing schemes and the Local Authority Home Loan, for applicants who are divorced, legally separated/separated or the relationship has ended and have no financial interest in the family home. In recognition of such instances an exemption to the First Time Buyer eligibility criteria can be applied under the Fresh Start Principle for the following category of persons to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan:
• Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property, but is legally separated or divorced and has left the property and divested themselves of their interest in the property; and
• Applicant(s) that previously purchased or built a residential property but has been divested of this through insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, are eligible to apply. However, a separate assessment of creditworthiness will be conducted by the underwriters.
To be eligible for a Local Authority Home loan, Fresh Start applicant(s) must have divested their interest in the previous property.
Further details on the Fresh Start eligibility can be found on the dedicated website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/information/faq/eligibility/#question-4.
604. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if consideration has been given to extend the period for hedge cutting beyond 1 March 2024 and commencing earlier than 1 September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11709/24]
View answer605. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether he has considered any options regarding representations to the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an extension to the period for hedge cutting, to extend beyond 1 March 2024 and start earlier than 1 September 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11710/24]
View answer661. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether any consideration has been given to extending the period for hedge cutting beyond 1 March and commencing earlier than 1 September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12529/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 604, 605 and 661 together.
I refer to the reply to Dáil Question No. 277 on 22 February 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.
606. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update on his Department's examination of the creation of a system of holding rental deposits as set out in housing policy objective 2.12 of Housing for All; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11720/24]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provided for the development of a deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). However, significant changes have taken place in the rental market since this legislation was passed. The Housing for All Action Plan Update published in November 2022, included an action to examine the creation of a system of holding rental deposits, informed by best international experience.
The Housing Agency have completed a preliminary examination in line with the Housing for All action. My Department is currently reviewing this examination.
607. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost to the Exchequer in 2023 per unit of accommodation for each of the housing funding streams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11721/24]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 322 of 30 January 2024 which sets out the average costs for units delivered via CALF Construction, CALF Turnkey, CALF Part V, CAS Construction, CAS Turnkey, CAS Part V, SHIP Construction, SHIP Turnkey and SHIP Part V.
The average cost per unit for Cost Rental Equity Loan from Q1 to Q3 2023 is €127,341. To note that this average cost represents the average loan cost and not a cost to the Exchequer.
608. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of affordable purchase and cost-rental homes, respectively, that will be delivered through LDA investment in 2024; the estimated amount of expenditure it has allocated to deliver same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11722/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All the Government will deliver 54,000 affordable homes between now and 2030, targeting an average of 6,000 affordable homes to be made available every year for purchase or for rent by Local Authorities, AHBs, the LDA and via the First Home Scheme.
The Land Development Agency (LDA) represents a crucial lever in the Government’s delivery of affordable and social homes, co-ordinating relevant public lands within State control and activating key underutilised sites to maximise housing delivery. The LDA has an immediate focus on managing the State’s own lands to develop new homes and regenerate under-utilised sites. In the longer-term, it will assemble strategic land-banks from a mix of public and private lands making these available for housing in a controlled manner, which is expected to bring essential more long-term stability to the Irish housing market.
It is also tasked with unlocking stalled private, planning-consented developments in the shorter-term through Project Tosaigh, its market engagement initiative. Under the first phase of Project Tosaigh the LDA delivered its first homes in 2022 and over 2,500 social, affordable purchase and cost rental homes have since either been delivered, contracted or are in the pipeline approved by the LDA Investment Committee.
A process to establish a panel of delivery partners with the intention of scaling up and accelerating delivery through a second phase of Project Tosaigh has also commenced. It is anticipated that the panel will be established and the first set of sites agreed in the coming months. The LDA are confident they are on track to deliver the 5,000 units targeted for the initiative by 2026.
The LDA currently has access to €1.25bn of equity capital from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) and a further €1.25bn of borrowings as provided for under the LDA Act. The LDA has sufficient funding at present and has so far not availed of its borrowing powers. Government has agreed to the further investment of up to €1.25 billion in equity capital in the LDA from ISIF and is currently making legislative provision for this.
609. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of the revolving Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11723/24]
View answerThe Housing Agency administers the Housing Agency Acquisitions Fund (HAAF) on behalf of my Department. This fund has been repositioned to a dual role to support both the ‘Housing First’ Programme and the new, pilot ‘Cost Rental Tenant in-Situ’ (CRTiS) Scheme.
The 'Housing First' Programme offers permanent housing to those rough sleeping or in long term use of emergency homeless accommodation and then provides them with other intensive supports which help them maintain their tenancy.
CRTiS is a new scheme that is available where a tenant household which is at risk of homelessness faces the termination of its tenancy due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. In this scheme, the Housing Agency can purchase rental properties from private landlords who are selling, they then continue to rent these properties to the tenants who remain living there.
610. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total spend via the social housing current expenditure programme in 2023, broken down by lease types (details supplied); the total number of leases funded in each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11724/24]
View answerThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities for the leasing of houses and apartments. Dwellings under the scheme come from a number of different sources including private owners, Part V and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Details of the number of units and funding of the Social Housing Leasing Programme can be found on my Department's website at the following links:
www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Number of units - assets.gov.ie/253731/385ff381-c907-4698-aeff-097f6ca0b319.xlsx.
Funding - assets.gov.ie/99984/d10e5f7c-a0f5-40ab-9ccf-0559e22f3afa.xlsx.
Data for Q4 2023 is currently being compiled and will be available in the coming weeks.
611. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if allowing for publication of election candidates' home addresses is mandated in statute; and, if not, if he has given consideration to issuing a memorandum or statutory instrument, ending the practice of publication of home addresses of election candidates. [11747/24]
View answerUnder electoral law, a nomination paper must state the name, address and occupation (if any) of a candidate at an election. A ballot paper must contain the name and description of the candidate standing nominated, as shown in the nomination paper. This requirement is intended as a means of identifying a candidate and ensuring the transparency of elections. In ruling on the validity of a nomination paper, the independent returning officer must, amongst other things, object to the description of a candidate which is, in his or her opinion, incorrect or insufficient to identify the candidate.
Guidance provided to Returning Officers by my Department in advance of elections states that a candidate’s address need not necessarily relate to their residence but could, for example, refer to their place of business such as a constituency office.
During the Committee Stage debate on the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 the issue of the requirement for the address of a candidate on ballot papers was raised. During the debate, I highlighted that An Coimisiún Toghcháin had prepared its first draft research programme and was seeking the views of the Oireachtas, the public and other interested parties on its research priorities. In response to An Coimisiún's call for submissions I asked it to consider the issue of the address of candidates on ballot papers.
Changes to electoral law in respect of the issue would have regard to any recommendations made by An Coimisiún Toghcháin.
612. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the date on which the 2023 Q4 social and affordable housing statistics will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11752/24]
View answerMy Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Q3 2023 and is published on the statistics' page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
Data for Q4 2023 is currently being collated and will be published shortly.
My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2023. The Q4 CSR will be published in tandem with the Q4 statistics. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/.
A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis of completions, locations, approvals stage etc. at this link: data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2023.
613. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he expects the tripartite agreement on the delivery of social and affordable housing in the Poolbeg SDZ will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11766/24]
View answerThe regeneration of Poolbeg West is an important step in the transformation of the Dublin Docklands area, with the potential to provide for 3,500 homes. A condition of the planning scheme for the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone, as modified by An Bord Pleanála on 9 April 2019, is the provision of 15% social and affordable homes on this site in addition to the 10% statutory social housing requirement under Part V arrangements.
In March 2022, Dublin City Council approved an application for the first phase of homes at the former Glass Bottle site. My Department has been working with Dublin City Council and the developers of the Poolbeg SDZ area to progress the delivery of social and affordable housing in this first phase of housing delivery, subject to agreement on the SDZ requirements and all the normal and relevant terms, including value for money aspects.
The developers are engaging with Dublin City Council regarding the provision of the 10% Part V social housing in this first phase and tripartite engagement is ongoing with regard to delivery of the additional social and affordable housing in this first phase in accordance with the terms of the SDZ condition. Drafting of an agreement is underway and the parties are not in a position to comment further until an agreement is finalised.
614. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown, by county of the 39,900 homes, in the context of planning measures introduced in 2021, with some 39,900 homes granted planning permission with conditions prohibiting the bulk purchase by, or multiple sale to a single purchaser between May 2021 and December 2023. [11767/24]
View answerThe information requested is being complied and will be forwarded to the deputy in accordance with standing orders.
|
Planning Authority |
No. of Units |
|
Carlow County Council |
7 |
|
Cavan County Council |
519 |
|
Clare County Council |
475 |
|
Cork County Council |
1,388 |
|
Cork City Council |
1,149 |
|
Donegal County Council |
65 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1,241 |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown Council |
933 |
|
Fingal County Council |
3,101 |
|
Galway City Council |
476 |
|
Galway County Council |
342 |
|
Kerry County Council |
1,011 |
|
Kildare County Council |
1,701 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
776 |
|
Laois County Council |
927 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
21 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
493 |
|
Longford County Council |
0 |
|
Louth County Council |
965 |
|
Mayo County Council |
704 |
|
Meath County Council |
1,198 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
102 |
|
Offaly County Council |
466 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
551 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
1,401 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
927 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
1,588 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
1,311 |
|
Wexford County Council |
1,144 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
1,320 |
|
An Bord Pleanála (SHDs) |
14,525 |
|
Total |
40,827 |
615. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a tenant’s top-up led them to accumulating arrears would he consider HAP rates for this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11788/24]
View answerUnder the HAP scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
While there is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent required by the landlord, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and that households in HAP are in a position to meet the rental costs involved.
Tenants in the HAP scheme are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the relevant local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. Where a person has a change of circumstances, such as a loss of income, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can reassess those tenants and adjust their differential rent accordingly.
The HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages the collection of all HAP tenants’ differential rents, on behalf of the relevant local authority, and the payment of all HAP rents to landlords on behalf of tenants supported by the HAP scheme. The HAP SSC follows a clear communication policy if rental arrears issues arise. This policy includes regular and early written communication with tenants, landlords and the relevant local authority.
The approach taken by the HAP SSC has been very effective with minimal levels of rent arrears arising for HAP tenants. At end Q3 2023, the scheme had a 99% differential rent collection rate with minimal arrears arising for tenants or local authorities. Therefore, only a very small number of tenants have fallen into difficulty with their differential rent.
Since July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons’ households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case-by-case basis and also the level of discretion applied in each case.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
